The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By: Rebecca Skloot

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Bahni Turpin

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one New York Times best seller.

Now a major motion picture from HBO® starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne.

One of the “most influential” (CNN), “defining” (Lit Hub), and “best” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) books of the decade.

One of essence’s 50 most impactful Black books of the past 50 years.

Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review, Entertainment Weekly, O: The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Financial Times, New York, Independent (UK), Times (UK), Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Globe, and Mail.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells - taken without her knowledge - became one of the most important tools in medicine: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, which are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than 60 years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than 20 years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family - past and present - is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family - especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah. Deborah was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Had they killed her to harvest her cells? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance? Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

©2010 Rebecca Skloot (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

Winner of The Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for nonfiction

"The story of modern medicine and bioethics - and, indeed, race relations - is refracted beautifully, and movingly.” (Entertainment Weekly)

"Writing with a novelist's artistry, a biologist's expertise, and the zeal of an investigative reporter, Skloot tells a truly astonishing story of racism and poverty, science and conscience, spirituality and family driven by a galvanizing inquiry into the sanctity of the body and the very nature of the life force." (

Booklist)

Impactful story, great narration, WOW.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I read this audiobook a couple years ago, but recently pegged it for my upcoming April book club reading, so I'll get to read it again, and this time discuss with friends. When I read this the first time, I was gushing about it to everyone. Highly recommend as a great read on women's health, 20th century medical history and innovation, changing medical rights and legal rights to our own bodies, and a saga of one African American family still struggling with a legacy that would confuse many. The author's own role in this story is also a great component, as she must navigate these complex, heavy waters.

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What made the experience of listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks the most enjoyable?

A truly remarkable and compelling history that took place under our noses . This should have been written a very long time ago and should be incorporated into both elementary and high school science curriculum. It ties life together with science. That aside it is one of the most relevant modern books I have ever read. Thank you to Rebecca for her persistence and thank you to the Lacks family for their candor and participation in getting this story on paper. There are so many aspects to this book. A sad human drama , a global mystery and maybe conspiracy is the word. It is a masterful blend of science, history and individual human crisis. Anyone reading this book will be left with an unexpected personal education that just might reset ones basic beliefs as they pertain to life, the social contract , fairness, honesty in how we treat each other and facing the lies we accept as fundamental truths. I think I would be a lesser person if I had never read this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Debra meeting her mothers cells in the lab

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The authors first visit with the family and with Zachariah were touching and sometimes humorous. The saddest parts were Henrietta's ordeal before her death, Debra and Zachariah's upbringing; discovering Elsie's history and Debra dying

Any additional comments?

I would like to know more about Da's silence...why?

Important Book!

Such an amazing story! Sad and inspiring. Everyone needs to know the story of Henrietta Lacks! It was the perfect mix of scientific history, a very personal story of Debra and The Lacks family along with how the author (Rebecca) became part of the story herself. The ethical questions and the injustices are so important to be aware of. I couldn’t recommend this audiobook more!

science being personalized

listening to the author being interviewed at the end is a must! this brought science down to a personable level. In my mind, how many papers do we sign going into the ED or for a procedure, where staff make a few xxx for us to initial, here, here.. and here stating " this is just saying. . . . . " We really have no idea.

Incredible

I'm not sure where to start ... While listening to this audio I found myself sometimes uttering a tsk or a sigh, even a huh and a nod or shake of my head. It was not a standard science book but a well told story of a small cluster of cells and the effects it has on the world of science and the family that was related to said cells. I loved this book! A must read for sure.

Awesome

I have always been into science & math. I come from an educated family background, but I am a woman of colour so I understand and grieve for the trials and the family's loss. Even though I am in the medical field I have experienced and seen a doctor's and a scientist's detachment from the live person leading to the patient's hostility. I do believe in cell & tissue donation but even with my experience I would not wish for its useage to be weaponized and would like its use to be ...free as it was given. Capitalism in medicine is a killer. It should be done to benefit ALL. And lets face it, we can all afford the cost or beneficial results...for multiple reasons, some of which is the least based on sex and for the most based on race. THIS BOOK WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE . Thank you for this.
Sorry for any misspelling or rambling. It's very late. I read and commented on it in one day. "Pheeewww" as i wipe my brow.

Amazingly well done.

This book is better than a novel and WAY better than a science book. I'm both a better human and more sensitive, intelligent person for having listened to it. Thank you to the author, narrator, and of course, the Lacks family.

Emotional

It's sad that people won't go to the doctor for regular checkups all due to cost. It's also sad that people won't follow up when the doctor finds something wrong that can be managed for the renewal of their health.
For the multi-billions of dollars made, the Lacks family should have been compensated. Hats off to the author. Thank you.

I couldn't lay it down

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is so important on so many levels. Ms. Skloot should have been considered for a Medal of Freedom for this work: her life's work to date. There is a big piece of American History here that everyone needs to know. The way she tells this story and the style of the narrator grabs you and won't let you go. Ms. Lacks probably helped someone in most families of the world where health care is available. Everyone needs to know where that help came from.

Any additional comments?

Important story told with such ease and style that it is over way too soon.

Unforgettable!

Thank you Rebecca for introducing us Non-scientists to HeLa- in such a beautiful and Humane way.
This is one of those totally unforgettable True Life stories. I totally fell in love with Debra.